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After what felt like several gruelling hours of endless tickle torture, the perfidious skeleton finally relented his attack and released Laurii; The whimsical pink flutter of magic surrounding her being diminished with a shimmering tone, allowing Laurii to move and regain her composure.

Never had she ever laughed so much or so hard before in her entire life. She was beginning to feel the climbing aftermath of her relentless laughter begin to take way on her throat as a burning pain began to coat it.

It was a low pain that stemmed from extensive use and exhaustion, causing her usually soft, fragile tone to turn into something of a low, gravelly groan.

she sat up slowly, sinking away into an ocean of exhaustion as she inhaled heavy, partially shaky breaths of air through her mouth, allowing the much welcomed cold breeze to soothe her throat. Although the wind wasn't the best help, it was still something that at least attempted to lend a helping hand to shrivel away the mild pain.

"W...what....w..what...was...t-...that...for?" She quaked out in-between deep breaths. There was no reason to do anything so sudden like that, especially when she hadn't even agreed in the slightest to being tickled.

Looking down upon her with a toothy grin on display, Tick laughed brazenly towards the question, returning his hands to his pockets as his feet voluntarily pulled him a step back to give Laurii some more space to recover. "*well, like i said, i was just testin' ya." He replied, in an attempt to remind her of his previous intention.

He hadn't had any other motive behind it by the way he said his statement so straight and without any notable tone of deception.

"*and it seems i learned a lot about'cha, kiddo." He chuckled, retracting his gaze to transfix on the sky. "*maybe a bit more than your dad does. ya know, assumin' of course he doesn't know the full extent of how ticklish you are." Although joking, he closely watched her reaction with full interest. It wasn't his intent to anger the poor girl, of course. In the bitter least, he aimed for being a mild annoyance.

That was, after all, what he regaled around being towards anyone he decides to test with a tickle attack. It's a bit mischievous and maybe slightly agitating, but he does it all in good fun.

Nothing more and nothing less.

However, to Tick's surprise, the only reaction he got from her was a glare.

It wasn't just a glare that reflected a look of annoyance, though. It was a silent scream of pure anger.

A look that, though he wouldn't admit it, somewhat disturbed Tick for the meek fact that such a child shouldn't be able to give a look so maddening.

He fully watched as that ocean of blue in her eyes sunk into a deadly sea of pure black.

She slowly rubbed her hand against her aching side with slow, careful motions, as her tail cut left and right with quick agitation.

". . ."

Though soft, she let out a low, nearly unnoticeable growl, fueling her annoyance towards him.

Initially, Tick's reaction was to quickly defuse the situation before either of them had a chance to do something they'd come to regret.

After all, he didn't want to have to hurt a child under his own account of being the main reason she is disheveled.

Tick briskly formed a warm smile, raising a hand defensively.

"*hey now,"

He started, softening his expression a bit in an attempt to portray something more friendly, despite the damned dark circles underneath his eye sockets plaguing his attempt.

"*don't be like that, kid. i wasn't tryin' to make ya so mad, ya know? it was just a bit of fun. that's all!"

In actuality, it had been his first time ever dealing with someone who actually hated being tickled so much.

He knew that some people found it to be a mild annoyance, sure.

But never had someone ever looked at him like... THAT when he tickled them.

It was just unnerving..

"You had no right to do that." Laurii growled hoarsely, her voice still sounding rough and discordant.

Crossing her arms, her face blew into a deep, angry red tint that spread across her cheeks and nose into an even, glistening fluster.

"*why not?" Tick pressed, shrugging a bit. Laurii's expression had dimmed away from being so unnervingly angry to now looking merely annoyed and flustered.

It was like she was angrily blushing, which made replying to her casually more easy.

"*don'tcha know that's what this place is about? everyone does that here, kiddo!"

Laurii blinked slowly, her gaze shifting as she transfixed on a small break in-between the pine trees surrounding them.

Well, no, she clearly didn't know that... She hasn't had the pleasure of traveling around to other universes in this kind of world before so how could she know?

She couldn't recall it entirely, but she vaguely recollected Horror informed her of there being different diverse universes, but she had never went to any of them before. She doubts Horror would even let her go off on her own considering how he worries about her so much.

To her, it was so incredibly ironic. How could someone who seemed to be such a brute be so inanely loving and protective?

It was no secret that Horror himself, at least around the presence of strangers or... Potential food, has a main temperament of aggressive, psychotic, and overall sadistic.

However, it changes around those he cares for, though it was quite a few.

Those people were given the fortuitous luck of seeing a better, kinder side to the eldritch being.

Although...

Even around them...

Some things couldn't change...

"I was unaware..." Laurii replied after a moment, breaking the silence between them.

her tone noticably hinted with shame for having nearly lashed out on him for something she had no real knowledge about.

Tick watched her expression shift to guilt, as Laurii slowly lowered her arms, intertwining her fingers respectfully infront of herself: It was a stance she had a habit of doing more often than not. It was a way to relay a silent apology and notice of wrong doing.

Or, in other cases, it was a gesture of formality and respect.

He had no real idea how to adequately lie his finger on her drastic expression changes and emotional twitches.

It was strange and a bit concerning. Nonetheless, Tick did not comment on them.

After all, if he did, and dare he not, speak the wrong words or lie out his sentence indolently, he might accidentally insult her in some unforseen way. He wouldn't want to risk doing something like that.

"*hey, it's alright." He chimed, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. It was a pat that worked it's way to giving her a dull sense of comfort.

"*i'm guessin' horror- or uh, your dad- just hadn't told ya about many other universes, huh, kid?" He chuckled softly, as he was trying to make light of the situation for her, despite she did not even spare him the weakest glance or smallest smile in the slightest... she only continued to peer down at the snow solemnly. "Father had not told me about any universes. . ." She replied, her tone still soft and hardly audible.

"However, . ." She raised her head to look at Tick directly. "I believe that is merely because .. he doesn't know of any very well himself. ." Towards her sudden claim, Tick's expression contorted into a look of unadulterated confusion.

"*why d'ya think that?

surely he must know some, right? after all, the multiverse knows of h i m pretty well. . which well's why his reputation's a bit hectic, and that's why the news of him adoptin' was such a surprise.

who knew he had a fatherly side to em'?"

Tick exclaimed, slowly pressing his spine up against the hard bark of a firm pine tree. He hadn't once even considered such a strange thought.

He might not of known Horror very well himself, but to say he didn't know about any other Alternate Universes?

There was absolutely no way that was correct.

Surely, anyway.

"Father . . Had not once in a day told me anything about any other universes before. . ." She started explaining, as her gaze slowly retracted, causing her to peer off to the side where the tree lines parted. "Aside from the mere fact that they did indeed exist unto the world. . .But that at which I already knew to be true. . .I managed to get father to tell me many things about himself. . . But he had never once even mentioned going anywhere else out of his world. . ." She told him, her tone dropping to a soft mutter towards the end.

Tick did a slow nod. Despite it was a strange thing to think about, considering that would perhaps mean Horror doesn't know anything about any other universes at all, minus his own mostly empty wasteland.

But that didn't sound plausible.

After all..

After all..

Every one knew him so exponentially well with his crucial affiliation with Nightmare and-

...Well...

At least they did...

Before Horror abandoned that life to make a new - or well - mutually new - life with his grown family.

Although his sudden abandonment was not taken well, and Nightmare had to hunt down someone to take his place.

Of course Nightmare initially thought Horror's idea of leaving JUST for some... Adopted family and some roommate friends was absolutely stupid.

What was the point?

Whereas he had given unto him a reason to keep living and a status that gave him the ability to strike terror into the SOUL of any living being- he indolently gave it all away just for a family.

Well, not entirely gave it away..

But in the eyes of the incredulous king:

He became WEAK.

"*jeez.." Tick exclaimed, scratching the back of his skull. Laurii nodded. "Yes. However,.. Father had told me about how he had dabbled into the science field in his earlier years . . . I recall he mentioned attempting to create a portal of sorts that teleported individuals to other universes..but that, I believe was around when he was 20 or so. So... 14 years ago I believe it was.." She continued to explain, waving a dismissive hand to her own thoughts as she cycled through the right number subconsciously.

Tick's mutual expression twisted into a look of utter shock and he leaned forward slightly, gazing at the girl expectantly.

"*woah! 14 years, huh? so you're tellin' me horror is only 34?"

He asked, his tone itself dripping with intrigue.

He didn't think Horror was as old as a fossil, of course.. But 34? He was assuming at least maybe mid 40's at least.

"That is correct." She confirmed.

"*man .. adoptin' at that age, huh..couldn't be me.." Tick mused with a light chuckle. "Yes, however, I do not believe that father has the ability to age in his current state."

She mentioned in a calm, almost nonchalant tone, that Tick almost didn't think twice on the words she spoke.

But it quickly peaked his interest after he took in the words 'current state' and felt it was required to further elaborate on.

"*current state, huh? that's a bit odd to mention. what's up with his 'current state'?" He asked, making doubly sure to emphasize those two words exactly how they were meant to be relayed.

Laurii paused, her gaze shifting unsurely at the sudden question.

Her focus rested on her hands as they lied comfortably in her lap as she made a pass to speak in regards to his question..

But for a long winded moment, no words came out.

It was as if there was a tight clamp around her larynx preventing a word from escaping from her lips.

The two of them lied in a silent atmosphere for what felt like several long, drawn out minutes.

Nonetheless, having not a reason to rush, Tick waited patiently for her to give him some kind of explanation of sorts.

Or in the least, a reason why she cannot give one. Anything but the dreadful silence would be nice.

..

..

"I do not know how to say this without it sounding crazy,"

Laurii finally spoke up, willing herself to respond in correlation to the skeleton's prier inquiry.

"But father is . . . Dead. . .Well. . .Undead, more specifically."

She explained, although she did so in a slow, divided statement, as if she needed to really deeply soothe over each following word to decide if it is correctly stated or not.

However, her response raised many more questions than it did answers, and Tick couldn't help but shoot her a look of utter befuddlement.

However, he could easily tell that this specific discussion was one that she wasn't well versed in explaining.

That could mean a variety of things, of course. But due to the look she had on her face- a look of unsureness and mutual confusion, he decided to assume she didn't truly understand it either.

Whereas he was still bewildered on the matter, he did have a much more revelling question swimming around in his revolving conscience...

"*well, say,..how didcha meet horror anyway, kiddo?"

His question was followed by a curious glint mirrored vaguely in his magenta eye lights.

He was all for a good story, especially with there being nothing else to do for the time being.

However, in truth, he didn't know in the least how their meeting transpired, so if she didn't feel like explaining it, he couldn't force it out of her.

H

e watched expectantly as Laurii's gaze slowly drifted back to him. He could see she had a strange look highlighted in the blue sea occupying her eyes.

He could make it out as being a look of pure reminiscence.

A glisten of vaguely bad recollections.

And a soft twinkle of good ones as well.

However, for whatever reason she had to do it, she decided to give into the skeleton's clear inquisitiveness.

It was unsure as to why that was, but she did so, her eyes fluttering shut as she took to vividly relaying the many memories that began to slowly flood her subconscious almost instantaneously.

"If you really want to know how we met... I will tell you..."

Description
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After what felt like several gruelling hours of endless tickle torture, the perfidious skeleton finally relented his attack and released Laurii; The whimsical pink flutter of magic surrounding her being diminished with a shimmering tone, allowing Laurii to move and regain her composure.

Never had she ever laughed so much or so hard before in her entire life. She was beginning to feel the climbing aftermath of her relentless laughter begin to take way on her throat as a burning pain began to coat it.

It was a low pain that stemmed from extensive use and exhaustion, causing her usually soft, fragile tone to turn into something of a low, gravelly groan.

she sat up slowly, sinking away into an ocean of exhaustion as she inhaled heavy, partially shaky breaths of air through her mouth, allowing the much welcomed cold breeze to soothe her throat. Although the wind wasn't the best help, it was still something that at least attempted to lend a helping hand to shrivel away the mild pain.

"W...what....w..what...was...t-...that...for?" She quaked out in-between deep breaths. There was no reason to do anything so sudden like that, especially when she hadn't even agreed in the slightest to being tickled.

Looking down upon her with a toothy grin on display, Tick laughed brazenly towards the question, returning his hands to his pockets as his feet voluntarily pulled him a step back to give Laurii some more space to recover. "*well, like i said, i was just testin' ya." He replied, in an attempt to remind her of his previous intention.

He hadn't had any other motive behind it by the way he said his statement so straight and without any notable tone of deception.

"*and it seems i learned a lot about'cha, kiddo." He chuckled, retracting his gaze to transfix on the sky. "*maybe a bit more than your dad does. ya know, assumin' of course he doesn't know the full extent of how ticklish you are." Although joking, he closely watched her reaction with full interest. It wasn't his intent to anger the poor girl, of course. In the bitter least, he aimed for being a mild annoyance.

That was, after all, what he regaled around being towards anyone he decides to test with a tickle attack. It's a bit mischievous and maybe slightly agitating, but he does it all in good fun.

Nothing more and nothing less.

However, to Tick's surprise, the only reaction he got from her was a glare.

It wasn't just a glare that reflected a look of annoyance, though. It was a silent scream of pure anger.

A look that, though he wouldn't admit it, somewhat disturbed Tick for the meek fact that such a child shouldn't be able to give a look so maddening.

He fully watched as that ocean of blue in her eyes sunk into a deadly sea of pure black.

She slowly rubbed her hand against her aching side with slow, careful motions, as her tail cut left and right with quick agitation.

". . ."

Though soft, she let out a low, nearly unnoticeable growl, fueling her annoyance towards him.

Initially, Tick's reaction was to quickly defuse the situation before either of them had a chance to do something they'd come to regret.

After all, he didn't want to have to hurt a child under his own account of being the main reason she is disheveled.

Tick briskly formed a warm smile, raising a hand defensively.

"*hey now,"

He started, softening his expression a bit in an attempt to portray something more friendly, despite the damned dark circles underneath his eye sockets plaguing his attempt.

"*don't be like that, kid. i wasn't tryin' to make ya so mad, ya know? it was just a bit of fun. that's all!"

In actuality, it had been his first time ever dealing with someone who actually hated being tickled so much.

He knew that some people found it to be a mild annoyance, sure.

But never had someone ever looked at him like... THAT when he tickled them.

It was just unnerving..

"You had no right to do that." Laurii growled hoarsely, her voice still sounding rough and discordant.

Crossing her arms, her face blew into a deep, angry red tint that spread across her cheeks and nose into an even, glistening fluster.

"*why not?" Tick pressed, shrugging a bit. Laurii's expression had dimmed away from being so unnervingly angry to now looking merely annoyed and flustered.

It was like she was angrily blushing, which made replying to her casually more easy.

"*don'tcha know that's what this place is about? everyone does that here, kiddo!"

Laurii blinked slowly, her gaze shifting as she transfixed on a small break in-between the pine trees surrounding them.

Well, no, she clearly didn't know that... She hasn't had the pleasure of traveling around to other universes in this kind of world before so how could she know?

She couldn't recall it entirely, but she vaguely recollected Horror informed her of there being different diverse universes, but she had never went to any of them before. She doubts Horror would even let her go off on her own considering how he worries about her so much.

To her, it was so incredibly ironic. How could someone who seemed to be such a brute be so inanely loving and protective?

It was no secret that Horror himself, at least around the presence of strangers or... Potential food, has a main temperament of aggressive, psychotic, and overall sadistic.

However, it changes around those he cares for, though it was quite a few.

Those people were given the fortuitous luck of seeing a better, kinder side to the eldritch being.

Although...

Even around them...

Some things couldn't change...

"I was unaware..." Laurii replied after a moment, breaking the silence between them.

her tone noticably hinted with shame for having nearly lashed out on him for something she had no real knowledge about.

Tick watched her expression shift to guilt, as Laurii slowly lowered her arms, intertwining her fingers respectfully infront of herself: It was a stance she had a habit of doing more often than not. It was a way to relay a silent apology and notice of wrong doing.

Or, in other cases, it was a gesture of formality and respect.

He had no real idea how to adequately lie his finger on her drastic expression changes and emotional twitches.

It was strange and a bit concerning. Nonetheless, Tick did not comment on them.

After all, if he did, and dare he not, speak the wrong words or lie out his sentence indolently, he might accidentally insult her in some unforseen way. He wouldn't want to risk doing something like that.

"*hey, it's alright." He chimed, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. It was a pat that worked it's way to giving her a dull sense of comfort.

"*i'm guessin' horror- or uh, your dad- just hadn't told ya about many other universes, huh, kid?" He chuckled softly, as he was trying to make light of the situation for her, despite she did not even spare him the weakest glance or smallest smile in the slightest... she only continued to peer down at the snow solemnly. "Father had not told me about any universes. . ." She replied, her tone still soft and hardly audible.

"However, . ." She raised her head to look at Tick directly. "I believe that is merely because .. he doesn't know of any very well himself. ." Towards her sudden claim, Tick's expression contorted into a look of unadulterated confusion.

"*why d'ya think that?

surely he must know some, right? after all, the multiverse knows of h i m pretty well. . which well's why his reputation's a bit hectic, and that's why the news of him adoptin' was such a surprise.

who knew he had a fatherly side to em'?"

Tick exclaimed, slowly pressing his spine up against the hard bark of a firm pine tree. He hadn't once even considered such a strange thought.

He might not of known Horror very well himself, but to say he didn't know about any other Alternate Universes?

There was absolutely no way that was correct.

Surely, anyway.

"Father . . Had not once in a day told me anything about any other universes before. . ." She started explaining, as her gaze slowly retracted, causing her to peer off to the side where the tree lines parted. "Aside from the mere fact that they did indeed exist unto the world. . .But that at which I already knew to be true. . .I managed to get father to tell me many things about himself. . . But he had never once even mentioned going anywhere else out of his world. . ." She told him, her tone dropping to a soft mutter towards the end.

Tick did a slow nod. Despite it was a strange thing to think about, considering that would perhaps mean Horror doesn't know anything about any other universes at all, minus his own mostly empty wasteland.

But that didn't sound plausible.

After all..

After all..

Every one knew him so exponentially well with his crucial affiliation with Nightmare and-

...Well...

At least they did...

Before Horror abandoned that life to make a new - or well - mutually new - life with his grown family.

Although his sudden abandonment was not taken well, and Nightmare had to hunt down someone to take his place.

Of course Nightmare initially thought Horror's idea of leaving JUST for some... Adopted family and some roommate friends was absolutely stupid.

What was the point?

Whereas he had given unto him a reason to keep living and a status that gave him the ability to strike terror into the SOUL of any living being- he indolently gave it all away just for a family.

Well, not entirely gave it away..

But in the eyes of the incredulous king:

He became WEAK.

"*jeez.." Tick exclaimed, scratching the back of his skull. Laurii nodded. "Yes. However,.. Father had told me about how he had dabbled into the science field in his earlier years . . . I recall he mentioned attempting to create a portal of sorts that teleported individuals to other universes..but that, I believe was around when he was 20 or so. So... 14 years ago I believe it was.." She continued to explain, waving a dismissive hand to her own thoughts as she cycled through the right number subconsciously.

Tick's mutual expression twisted into a look of utter shock and he leaned forward slightly, gazing at the girl expectantly.

"*woah! 14 years, huh? so you're tellin' me horror is only 34?"

He asked, his tone itself dripping with intrigue.

He didn't think Horror was as old as a fossil, of course.. But 34? He was assuming at least maybe mid 40's at least.

"That is correct." She confirmed.

"*man .. adoptin' at that age, huh..couldn't be me.." Tick mused with a light chuckle. "Yes, however, I do not believe that father has the ability to age in his current state."

She mentioned in a calm, almost nonchalant tone, that Tick almost didn't think twice on the words she spoke.

But it quickly peaked his interest after he took in the words 'current state' and felt it was required to further elaborate on.

"*current state, huh? that's a bit odd to mention. what's up with his 'current state'?" He asked, making doubly sure to emphasize those two words exactly how they were meant to be relayed.

Laurii paused, her gaze shifting unsurely at the sudden question.

Her focus rested on her hands as they lied comfortably in her lap as she made a pass to speak in regards to his question..

But for a long winded moment, no words came out.

It was as if there was a tight clamp around her larynx preventing a word from escaping from her lips.

The two of them lied in a silent atmosphere for what felt like several long, drawn out minutes.

Nonetheless, having not a reason to rush, Tick waited patiently for her to give him some kind of explanation of sorts.

Or in the least, a reason why she cannot give one. Anything but the dreadful silence would be nice.

..

..

"I do not know how to say this without it sounding crazy,"

Laurii finally spoke up, willing herself to respond in correlation to the skeleton's prier inquiry.

"But father is . . . Dead. . .Well. . .Undead, more specifically."

She explained, although she did so in a slow, divided statement, as if she needed to really deeply soothe over each following word to decide if it is correctly stated or not.

However, her response raised many more questions than it did answers, and Tick couldn't help but shoot her a look of utter befuddlement.

However, he could easily tell that this specific discussion was one that she wasn't well versed in explaining.

That could mean a variety of things, of course. But due to the look she had on her face- a look of unsureness and mutual confusion, he decided to assume she didn't truly understand it either.

Whereas he was still bewildered on the matter, he did have a much more revelling question swimming around in his revolving conscience...

"*well, say,..how didcha meet horror anyway, kiddo?"

His question was followed by a curious glint mirrored vaguely in his magenta eye lights.

He was all for a good story, especially with there being nothing else to do for the time being.

However, in truth, he didn't know in the least how their meeting transpired, so if she didn't feel like explaining it, he couldn't force it out of her.

H

e watched expectantly as Laurii's gaze slowly drifted back to him. He could see she had a strange look highlighted in the blue sea occupying her eyes.

He could make it out as being a look of pure reminiscence.

A glisten of vaguely bad recollections.

And a soft twinkle of good ones as well.

However, for whatever reason she had to do it, she decided to give into the skeleton's clear inquisitiveness.

It was unsure as to why that was, but she did so, her eyes fluttering shut as she took to vividly relaying the many memories that began to slowly flood her subconscious almost instantaneously.

"If you really want to know how we met... I will tell you..."